FCC Consumer Complaints – 1 May 2018
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1278 consumer complaints on Tuesday, 1 May 2018 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 1156 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 887 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1278
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (887)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (176)
Where the complaints came from
The 1278 complaints recorded on 1 May 2018 originated from 808 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 176 | 13.8% |
| Texas | 112 | 8.8% |
| Florida | 94 | 7.4% |
| New York | 71 | 5.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 54 | 4.2% |
| Ohio | 52 | 4.1% |
| Illinois | 48 | 3.8% |
| Massachusetts | 40 | 3.1% |
| Washington | 39 | 3.1% |
| North Carolina | 37 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 551 | 43.1% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 1079 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 1079 | 84.4% |
| TV | 89 | 7.0% |
| Internet | 88 | 6.9% |
| Radio | 18 | 1.4% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
1079 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 84.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 887 | 82.2% |
| Billing | 86 | 8.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 26 | 2.4% |
| Equipment | 23 | 2.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 1.3% |
| Privacy | 13 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 46 | 51.7% |
| Availability | 18 | 20.2% |
| Indecency | 7 | 7.9% |
| Equipment | 6 | 6.7% |
| Interference | 6 | 6.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 3 | 3.4% |
| Privacy | 3 | 3.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
88 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 29 | 33.0% |
| Speed | 16 | 18.2% |
| Availability | 15 | 17.0% |
| Privacy | 13 | 14.8% |
| Equipment | 7 | 8.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 5.7% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.4% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Availability.
Unwanted calls
887 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 69.4% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (458) 209-2126 | 11 | 1.2% |
| (336) 436-9730 | 9 | 1.0% |
| (773) 273-6136 | 7 | 0.8% |
| (301) 298-1634 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (312) 858-3867 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (630) 326-8952 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (310) 228-5321 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (503) 339-1771 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (661) 678-1490 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (845) 445-4324 | 3 | 0.3% |
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (336) 436-9730 | 11 | 1.2% |
| (458) 209-2126 | 11 | 1.2% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (773) 273-6136 | 5 | 0.6% |
| (845) 445-4472 | 4 | 0.5% |
| (310) 228-5321 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (360) 355-8135 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (510) 488-9123 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (517) 401-1863 | 3 | 0.3% |
| (914) 364-5799 | 3 | 0.3% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by call type.
- Several business contact numbers were reported multiple times, with no single number clearly ahead of the others.
- (458) 209-2126 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
The information presented on this page is based on consumer complaint data submitted to regulatory authorities. References to telephone numbers reflect reports made by consumers and do not confirm ownership, authenticity, or that the number was genuinely associated with the call. Caller ID information may be inaccurate or subject to spoofing.
Complaint categories, dates and complainant locations are based on the source records and may contain incomplete, approximate or user-entered information. Location details refer to the complainant’s reported location, not the location of the caller or telephone number. This content is provided for informational purposes only.